updated 11:40 am EDT, Thu September 21, 2006

Samsung i600 at FCC

Regular smartphone users dissuaded by the larger size of BlackBerries or concerned about the availability of Zenum's Opus Operis in North America should soon have the option of a new model from Samsung. The SGH-i600, revealed today in an FCC filing, uses a 2.3-inch screen that slims the profile of the Windows Mobile-based phone without sacrificing the 320x240 resolution or full keyboard common to many recent, larger smartphones. Samsung has also added a significant number of features that are rare in these devices: cameras on the front and back exist for video calls as well as standard photos and videos, WiFi connects the phone to local networks, and HSDPA mobile broadband (with EDGE legacy support) is present for faster online access. The timing of the FCC document points to a likely release of the i600 in the US before the end of the year.